Minnesota AIDS Walk ambassador, Doug Melroe, warms up the crowd with a heartfelt and enthusiatic workout before the Minnesota AIDS Walk held in Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis, MN. (PRNewsFoto/Minnesota AIDS Project)

MINNEAPOLIS, May 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Sunday, May 19, 2013, join the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP) at Minnehaha Park for the 26th year of the Minnesota AIDS Walk. Donations to the AIDS Walk help the Minnesota AIDS Project prevent new HIV infections and keep people living with HIV in Minnesota healthy.

The day's events will begin at 9:00 a.m. with registration, activities in the park such as "Why I walk" photo sharing, massages, children's games, health screenings and free HIV testing. The opening ceremonies, emceed by Jana Shortal from KARE 11 and workout guru Doug Melroe of The Firm, begin at 10 a.m. with local bands from the School for the Recording Arts and Swedish Revival, followed by the Minnesota AIDS Walk at 11:00 a.m.

For 25 years, the Minnesota AIDS Walk has raised funds for the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP). The first AIDS Walk attracted 1,000 people and raised 100,000. Last year the AIDS Walk raised almost $500,000 with about 5,000 people participating as walkers, runners, and donors.

There is a new case of HIV every day and an additional 7,500 people living with the disease in Minnesota. The largest and oldest organization fighting HIV in the state, the Minnesota AIDS Project is the leading advocate for evidence-based policies that can help lower the incidence of HIV across Minnesota. New cases are prevented by reducing risk in high-risk populations. In Minnesota, those most at risk are young gay and bisexual men of all races.

Confidential community-based support is also provided to people living with HIV – case management, assistance with food, housing and transportation, benefits counseling, and legal services – helping them to maintain their health and reduce the risk of transmission.